Republican lawmaker urges caution in addressing gun laws in wake of shooting

The incoming chairwoman of the House Republican Conference urged caution in passing new gun laws.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), speaking in an interview with C-SPAN set to air Sunday, was asked whether it was time to review current gun laws in light of a shooting rampage in Connecticut.

"We need to find out what happened and what drove this individual to this place," McMorris Rodgers said. "I think we have to be careful about new —suggesting new gun laws. We need to look at what drives a crazy person to do these kind of actions and make sure that we’re enforcing the laws that are currently on the books. And yes, definitely, we need to do everything possible to make sure that something like this never happens again."

McMorris Rodgers's comments came in the aftermath of a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn. on Friday. The shooting resulted in at least 20 children dead as well as an estimated seven adults including the shooter, according to Connecticut state police.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), one of the first lawmakers to respond, released a statement on the shooting in which he called for tightening existing gun laws.

"If now is not the time to have a serious discussion about gun control and the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our society, I don’t know when is," Nadler said.

---